One interesting aspect of my family history is the discovery that some of my ancestors were witches. This revelation came to light during a genealogy research project I undertook a few years ago. On my mother's side, it was discovered that there were several women in the family who were accused of practicing witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in the late 17th century. Digging deeper into the historical records, I was able to uncover more details about these accused witches. It turns out that the accusations stemmed from a combination of fear, superstition, and religious fervor that was prevalent in Puritan New England at the time. The accusations were often based on flimsy evidence, such as rumors and gossip, and many innocent people were unjustly condemned.
Image Credit:
Official portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge (1879-1957)
Howard Chandler Christy, 1924
There are now massive online archives that make it easier than ever to hunt down obscure ancestors, not to mention mail-in DNA tests that can reach back centuries. Just in time for Witch s Night Halloween that is, not Walpurgisnacht , London s Wellcome Library, which specializes in medical text and history, has digitized Manuscript 3658, Names of Witches in Scotland, 1658.
The accusations were often based on flimsy evidence, such as rumors and gossip, and many innocent people were unjustly condemned. Learning about these ancestral witches was both fascinating and sobering. It reminded me of the importance of critical thinking and questioning blind beliefs.
Witch ancestry - are you the descendant of a witch?
"We are the daughters of the witches you didn't burn" is the latest popular phrase I've seen casually thrown around on social media - mostly shared on witchy groups in Facebook and emblazoned across T-Shirts and hoodies in sponsored Instagram posts.
Burning witches is not a phrase to be taken lightly. It has been estimated that around 50,000 people were executed as witches in Europe alone during the witch-hunt hysteria of the 15th to 18th centuries, with hundreds of thousands more in the US. Many of these victims were hanged or beheaded, or died in prison cells during the hysteria of the witch trials. Those that survived were horrifically tortured or put on trial only to force an accusation of another neighbour or villager. Many surviving witches and Pagans went into hiding. A lot of innocent people died.
Witchcraft at Salem Village - Image source: WikipediaIf you're new to witchcraft, or curious to find out whether you're related to a witch, exploring your ancestral line is a fascinating place to start but, before delving into your family’s history, it is important to think about whether you believe these men and women were actually practising witches or not. Under conditions of torture, the majority of the accused would confess to being witches to lessen their sentence or to avoid further punishment. Their closest connection to witchcraft simply being the practise of using locally found herbs for healing.
I intentionally wrote 'practising' witches above because everybody has magickal connections in their family tree, if you go back far enough. European ancestors were Pagan before Christianity took over, Ancient Greeks encompassed a collection of beliefs and rituals and Hinduism, the oldest religion in existence and the third largest in the modern world, focuses on practises such as meditation, chants, yoga and burning incense for their deities. Practises may be called different things and techniques may differ slightly, but the magick has always been there. Everyone has at least one connection to a priest, priestesses, druid, shaman or witch doctor throughout ancient history.
Whether it's basic level nature magick or experienced witchcraft, humans have been using magick for as long as we have existed. Some witches are born knowing their abilities or born into a magickal household, while others learn and develop them throughout their life.
Witches harness their powers and practice witchcraft. Some do it openly, some only ever in their private space. You may never know if you have a witchy ancestor but, the first step to finding out is to identify your family tree. Beginning with your last name, write your father last name and mother’s maiden name above it, then branch out to her mother’s maiden name and her father's name (your grandmother and grandfather on your mother's side), and your father’s mother’s maiden name and his father's name (your grandmother and grandfather on your father's side) and so on. Identify as many surnames as you can, then compare those names against recognised witch bloodline names. It also helps if you mark where those family members lived to get an idea of where the names originated from. This will make finding your ancestors slightly easier.
The next step is to research the names. There is an enormous amount of information on the internet and you can use online tools such as Ancestry.com which has an enormous record collection. Some genealogy sites are free, some are pay-per-view and some require a subscription. It's also worthwhile speaking to your family members and visit your local records office if you have one. London's Wellcome Library recently published a seventeenth century manuscript online, available at Ancestry.com, containing the names of over 300 people accused of witchcraft during the Scottish witch panic of 1658-1662.
It also made me reflect on how easily fear and ignorance can lead to the persecution of innocent individuals. While the knowledge of having witch ancestors may have initially seemed like a quirk of my family history, it also made me proud in a way. These women, despite being labeled as witches, were actually free-thinking individuals who may have challenged the norms and expectations of their society. In a time when women had limited rights and opportunities, being accused of witchcraft could be seen as a symbol of independence and defiance. It is important to note that witchcraft, as practiced by my ancestors, was not malevolent or harmful but was rather rooted in natural healing and spirituality. These women may have possessed a deep understanding of herbal medicine, alternative healing methods, and a connection to nature that was misunderstood and feared by others. In reflecting on my ancestors' witchcraft accusations, it is clear that society has come a long way since the days of the Salem Witch Trials. We have made significant progress in recognizing and respecting individual rights and freedoms. However, it is also important to remain vigilant against bigotry and prejudice, as history has shown us the dangerous consequences that can arise from baseless accusations and intolerance. Overall, discovering that some of my ancestors were witches adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to my family history. It reminds me of the importance of embracing diverse perspectives and challenging societal norms, while also recognizing the danger that ignorance and fear can pose. My ancestors were not wicked or evil; they were simply misunderstood individuals who dared to think and live differently..
Reviews for "Exploring the Witch Trials and Persecutions Faced by My Ancestors' Witches"
1. John - 2/5 - "Weee my ancestors witches" was not my cup of tea. I found the storyline to be quite confusing and disjointed, jumping from one scene to another without much explanation. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to feel invested in their journey. Additionally, I felt that the dialogue was quite forced and unrealistic. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the story.
2. Emily - 1/5 - I really struggled to get through "Weee my ancestors witches". The writing style was very jarring and hard to follow, with constant shifts in perspective and tense. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became convoluted and difficult to understand. The characters were not fleshed out and their motivations were unclear. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a cohesive and engaging read.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "Weee my ancestors witches" was a disappointment for me. The premise sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was uneven and the story lacked a clear direction. I found myself often getting lost and having to reread passages to make sense of what was happening. The writing style was also quite lackluster, with repetitive phrases and awkward sentence structures. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Michael - 3/5 - While "Weee my ancestors witches" had its moments, it ultimately did not meet my expectations. The characters were interesting, but their development felt rushed and inconsistent. The plot had potential, but it became convoluted and hard to follow as the story progressed. The writing style was engaging at times, but it lacked consistency, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found this book to be a mediocre read that didn't fully deliver on its promising premise.